Timberwolves-Thunder game preview: Oklahoma City has won 11 in a row
The Thunder are thriving despite the loss of center Chet Holmgren, who has a fractured pelvis.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
December 30, 2024 at 11:08PM
Tuesday, 7 p.m., Paycom Center
TV, radio: FanDuel Sports North Extra, iHeart app
Thunder update: They are the best team in the Western Conference at 26-5 despite playing the past six weeks without injured C Chet Holmgren (pelvis fracture). He could return in late January. … OKC has won 11 in a row and is the NBA’s top-ranked defensive team (103.3). … G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averages 31.0 points per game (second in the league) and G Jalen Williams 21.2. … The Thunder were the top seed in the West last season and, like the Wolves, were eliminated by Dallas in the playoffs.
Wolves update: It’s the first of four meetings with the Thunder this season for the Wolves (17-14 and nine games behind OKC in the West standings). … G Donte DiVincenzo has 48 points in his past two games, including 11-for-20 on threes. … The Wolves are sixth in NBA defensive rating (109.2). … They are in a stretch of 19 games in 35 days. … G Anthony Edwards (24.9) is 13th in the NBA in scoring.
The defending NBA champions are at Target Center for a nationally televised game Thursday night.
